Different Levels of EV Charging Stations & Installing at Home

Whether you’re looking at a plug-in hybrid or a true battery electric vehicle, if you’re thinking of becoming an EV owner then you’re likely thinking about installing a charging station at home. There are three different levels when it comes to charging your electric vehicle, so we thought we’d give you the rundown on those different levels and how to go about installing certain ones at home. Read on below for all the details!

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Level 1 Charging

This is the simplest type of charging station as it should come with your electric vehicle and take very little setting up. Level 1 charging uses your basic home electrical current, so roughly 120 volts. That means this “station” is just your charging cable plugged into an ordinary outlet somewhere in your garage or wherever you park. Using this basic Level 1 charging station makes charging at home simple and affordable, but it will take much longer to charge your vehicle completely.

Level 2 Charging

The next step up is what you’re likely going to want to achieve for your home charging station. These units utilize a 240-volt circuit, which is what certain items in your home utilize – for example, if you have a dryer in your laundry room, it uses this type of circuit. Most homes won’t have this type of outlet in the garage, though. That’s why this type of charging station is more expensive and involved, but worth it as it means you’ll be able to get a full charge in your vehicle in a much shorter amount of time. Unfortunately, you’ll likely need to hire an electrician to adjust your electrical system and give you an outlet in the garage, on top of purchasing the Level 2 charging station which can range from $300-1,000.

Level 3 Charging

The third and final level of charging was designed for commercial use, which means you won’t be able to install this type of station at home. It’s for rapid charging in public places while you’re on the go, utilizing much higher voltages and charging much quicker.

If you have any questions about electric vehicles or their charging stations, don’t hesitate to give us a call and we’ll help however we can.